Windshield wiper



May 1939.

L. MARCOLIVIO WINDSHIELD WIPER Filed July 2l, 1937 ATTORN EY Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED- STATES 'WINDSHIELD wIra Louis Marcolivio, Providence; I.,'assignor to Adelaine Romano, Providence,.R. I.

Application Ju1y` 21, 1937, serial No. 154,713

2 Claims.

` This invention relates to `windshield wipers, and more particularly to improved means for supporting the wiper arm from themotor shaft-y and tensioning the same to regulate the pressure 5 Aupon theywiper blade. Y I Oneobject of the invention is theprovisionof 'means for resiliently connecting a wiper arm to the motor shaft through a tensioning means to exert pressure upon the wiper blade for forcing it against the windshield glass.

Another object of the invention is the provi sion of means for regulating-the degree of, tensi'on applied to the wiper blade and maintaining the same substantially constant when desired.v

A further'object of the inventionis the pro- 4vision'V of 'asectionalwiper ,armformed of adjustably connected sections capable of adjustment relative to each other -and provided with means for maintaining the. same in adjusted relation.

Another object .of the invention is the provisionof a novel form of connecting means between the wiper arm and wiper blade'permitting relatively wide adjustment of the wiper blade longitudinally of the wiper arm and providing for the elimination of .a portion of the wiper arm extending belowr theconnect-ing means.v

A further object ofthe invention is vthe provision of n ovel means for connectinglthe wiper arm with the. motor shaft providing a vpivotal supportfor the wiper arm and including the provision of means for exertingtension upon the wiper arm in a direction towards the planeof the Windshield.`

Other objects and advantages of the invention relate to various improved details of construction and novel arrangements ofthe parts as4 will be more fully set forth in the detailed description to follow Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l is al fragmentary sectional viewrthrough a portion of an automobile windshield showing the location of a wiper actuating motor anda wiper arm carried thereby, portions-of the wiper arm being shown in section, and portions of the wiper arm and the wiper blade being shown in side elevation in operative relation with the windshield glass,

Fig. 2 is a view of the Wiper arm showing its connection with the motor shaft in side elevation and illustrating the position of the arm sections when the same are arranged to provide for increased tension upon the wiper blade,

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and showing the 'arrangement of the parts for providing a (or Vzar- 62) mounting vfor the wiper arm upon the motorv shaft, i

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of a portion of the Vwiper arm showing the cover or casing section forming a part of the wiper arm and a(` portion of the shaft section, t Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the connecting member for connecting the wiperblade to the `lowerend portion of the wiper arm, and; f I

.- Figa-6 is a transversesectional viewof thev f bladeconnecting member,V taken substantially along the-line 6-6 of Fig. 1 v l Inthe embodiment of the invention illustrated 'wherewith I` designates a portion of the frameof -an automobile located adjacent to -and supporting the windshield glass 2. PA Amotor 3 ofany suitable character may be carriedby the frame portionl and operatedin any desiredmanner to oscillate a motor shaft -4 projecting throughv the frame I and 4extending forwardly thereof-alsufii- V cient distanc'efor supporting a wiper arm in op-` erative relation with the windshield glassl-v.- t

- I'he wiper arm 'Q may comprise'a cover or ca's-v ing section l and a shaft section 8 which have overlying'or telescoping portions capable oflongitudinal adjustment relative to each other whereby the effective length of the wiper arm maybe varied somewhat as well as'the tension vapplied to the wiper arm for holding the wiperr bilade against the surface ofthe windshield' glass.

The casing or cover section I of the wiper arm may be pivotally supported from the motor shaft 4 by means of a connecting member; I Il, which, in the present instance, is inttheform of a; sleeve adapted to fit substantially over theend; portion I2 of the `motor shaft 4, `and which; is provided with oppositely positioned registering openings `I4 in alignment .with a transverse opening I5 formedin the end portion I2 oi the motor yShaft 4.. The registering openings M formed in the` sleeve maybe o f somewhat larger diameter than the transverse opening I5 in the endIZ of the motor shaft to provide room for receiving hollow trunnions I6 struck in fromopposite sidesof the body of the casing or cover 1 and. which serve as pivots for hingedly supporting the cover or casing I relative to the connecting member I0. A screw I8 or other suitable means may be kpassed through one of the oppositely positioned inturned hollow trunnions I6, the registering openings I4 in the connecting member I0 and the transverse opening I5 formed ln theend I2 of the motor shaft and into threaded engagement with the other hollow trunnion I6 to hold the parts in suitable relation with each other andprovide a suitable manner. as by means of an expanded rim 2|, which plate 2|lis provided with an opening 22 for receiving one end 24 of a coiled tension spring member 25 for a purpose which will n be more fully set` forth hereinafter.

The casing member 1 is provided with turned'side and end walls 2'6 and 21, one of the end walls 21 being provided withan opening Lfor receiving th'e threaded end portion.28 of the arml c section 8 which carries an adjusting nut-'30.' The extreme end portion ofthe threaded end 28 may be flattened, as indicated at 32, and provided with an opening to receive a set screw 33 passed through the opening in-the attenedend portion 32 and through a bent end 34 of the tension member 25 to extend through a slot 36 formed in the cover or casing member 1 and have applied thereto a locking nut 31 which is adapted tov bear againstl the outer face of the casing or cover member 1, and hold the parts securely in adjusted position. l v

Wiper blades now in use are of various different -types and constructions,7 and each type may be said to work most efiiciently under-the pressure best adaptedl for thaty particular construction. Heretofore, there has been 'no l readily 'operated meansfor' adjustlngthepressure' lto secure that best adapted for the particular type of blade 'emlrployed. Theabove 'constructionprovi'des for the vglass Lof the, windshield. Y

adjusting the' length of the `wiper arm through the adjustable connection of these'ctions, and also for increasing or decreasing the `amount of pressure applied tothe wperblade by thetension spring 25 for forcing the wiper blade'a'gainst `f lThis-'construction.also provides for setting the `parte when adjusted so that the'wiper blade may be operated .without` substantial change in'pressure'funtil such time. as it may be necessary to I -change the blade or'modl'iy the pressure to compensate forwear-orfmeet changedweather conditions.'- In setting thevpartsfor obtaining the desired'pressure, the nut 30 mayflrst be yturned y against the end 21 of the easing until the 4desired degree ofpressure' againstthe wiper blade is obtained.` 4'I'he nut 31v may then be tightened Y to clamp the parts firmly in position and mainsubstantially constant;

`tain aA substantially uniform pressure on the wiper blade until change in pressure is desired.

'In making such change;k the nut31 is rst turned to vrelease the parts, when thenut30 may be rotated to increase o rl decrease the tension on the spring member l25 and thus increase or decrease the'pressure on the bladefWhen--the desired .pressure is obtained the nut 31 may be again turned to secure the-parts against relative movement v'and maintain the pressure upon the blade 'I'he lower end portion 38`of-the rod 8 is prei- .erably square or rectangular in cross section and member 4l is provided with a narrow channel portion 4| for receiving the angular end portion 38 of the rod 8 and a set screw 42 is passed through the opposite sides of the channel portion 4| for clamping the same securely in position to the angular portion 38 of the rod. The connecting member 40 has an onset portion 44 which may comprise spaced opposed flanges 45 .adapted to receive therebetween a portion of a wiper blade 48 which may be secured thereto by means of a bolt or screw 41 passed through the opposed flanges 45 for suitably mounting' the wiper blade and holding it in wiping position relative to the windshield glass 2.

. The provision of the weakened lines 39 formed in the `squared or rectangular portion 38 of the arm permits the breaking off of one or more sections from the free end oi the portion 38 of the arm after the wiper blade has been secured thereto in the desired position, when one or more of such weakened lines extends beyond the end -of the channel portion 4|, as is shown in Fig'. 1

of thedrawing The wiper arm-'8 is pivotallyvconnected to the end portiony I2 of the motor shaft so that'it may 'bel moved through an arc at substantially right angles to the 'plane of the windshield glass when desired to raise the same from Vthe glass for llyplllp'se-` The provision of the connecting member I0 in the form of a sleeve and the manner of connecting thereto the cover member 1 provides a :simple and elicient mounting for the wiper arm which in connectionwth the tension member 25 andfadju'stable connectionv between the wiper arms'ections'rendersf it possible to vary the tension upon the wiper Ablade throughout'l wide limits to allowl for obtaining any suitable or desired tension upon the'wiperV blade whereby the 'same -is fadapted for' use in connection with various 'forms of wiperl blade requiring different degrees of pressure for their operation on the windshield glass.y

`WhatIclaim is: Y' I 1. In' a windshield wiper structure, a wiper arm comprising longitudinally adjustable sections-a tension spring for moving said sections relativevto each other yin one direction, means threaded upon'one of said-'sections and bearing against the other of said sections' for` moving jsaid sections relativeto eachother in an opposite direction, and means for retaining said sections in adjusted position relative to each other.

2. In a windshield wiper structure, 'a wiperV arm vcomprising a casing section having front, side and end walls, a second section slidably mounted vvin one of the endwalls of said rst section. means threaded upon said last named section andfbearing against the other of said sections for movingl 

